Ballistic combat glove

ABSTRACT

Gloves for military and law enforcement personnel that provide ballistic protection from high velocity fragments, bullets, and projectiles, flame and heat.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

None

SEQUENCE LISTING

None.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I served in the U.S. Army and this experience enabled me to recognize numerous deficiencies in gloves worn by military and law enforcement personnel. Military and law enforcement personnel often wear gloves that provide only non-ballistic protection against abrasions, lacerations and flame. These gloves are not designed to protect the hand or forearm from low and high velocity fragments and projectiles produced by high explosive weapons. These weapons include, but are not limited to, hand and rocket propelled grenades, mortar and artillery rounds, and roadside bombs. They also do not stop the penetration of pistol rounds. Because of these shortcomings in prior art, personnel suffer preventable wounds to the fingers, hand and lower arms. Rapid blood loss and traumatic amputation of fingers and hands can occur when wearing gloves that provide no ballistic protection.

PRIOR ART

U.S. Pat. No. 6,760,924 B2 to Hatch and McCarey discloses a glove that improves the shooting ability of the wearer. It also claims to provide adequate resistance to powder burns and increased non-ballistic resistance to cuts from knifes, glass or the like.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,415,446 B1 to Mclean et al discloses an improved cut resistant glove that protects the wearer while handling sharp cables, barbed wire, concertina wire, and razor wire.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,829 to Kindler discloses puncture resistant gloves for protecting hands from needles and sharp objects.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,321,700 to Cutshall discloses puncture and cut resistant gloves for use by medical personnel. It provides non-ballistic protection against such objects as cutting implements, needles, bone fragments, and sharp bone edges.

There remains a need in the art, for a glove for protecting, and reducing injury to the hands and forearms of wearer from various low and high velocity fragments, bullets, projectiles, and the like.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Accordingly, besides the objects and advantages of the ballistic combat glove described in my above patent, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:

(a) to decrease the number of personnel suffering wounds and injuries to the hands and forearms caused by impacts of both low and high velocity projectiles, fragments and bullets.

(b) to decrease the number of personnel suffering laceration injuries to the hand and forearms.

(c) to decrease injuries and death of personnel from blood loss from wounds sustained to the hands and forearms.

(d) to make prior art gloves for military and law enforcement personnel obsolete as they offer no ballistic protection.

(e) to save money by decreasing the number of personnel who will need to be treated for wounds and injuries to the hands and forearms.

(f) to increase the tactical effectiveness of military and law enforcement personnel by protecting them from wounds and injuries to the hands and forearms.

(g) to decrease the number of military and law enforcement personnel who suffer traumatic amputation of the fingers and hands.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

SUMMARY

The invention, gloves for military, police, and security personnel that incorporates ballistic material. Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the invention are to provide improved gloves, to provide protection from fragments, bullets, projectiles, lacerations and flame and heat injuries to the hands and forearms.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the glove includes a palm side inner portion and a palm side outer portion, and the palm side inner portion is made from at least one material for covering a palm side of the hand and the forearm when worn by the wearer. The glove further includes a palm side outer covering made from the at least one material for covering a palm side ballistic insert, a back side inner portion made from the at least one material for covering a back side of the hand and the forearm when worn by the wearer, a back side outer covering made from the at least one material for covering a back side ballistic insert, wherein the palm side ballistic insert is positioned and secured between the palm side inner portion and the palm side outer covering for protection against multiple low and high velocity fragments, bullets, and projectiles and the back side ballistic insert is positioned and secured between the back side portion and the back side outer covering for protection against the multiple low and high velocity fragments, bullets, and projectiles.

While the invention is described herein by way of example using several embodiments and illustrative drawings, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments of drawing or drawings described, and are not intended to represent the scale of the various components. Further, some components that may form a part of the invention may not be illustrated in certain figures, for ease of illustration, and such omissions do not limit the embodiments outlined in any way. It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the present disclosure. The headings used are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the invention. As used throughout this application, the word “may” is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include,” “including,” and “includes” mean including, but not limited to. Further, the words “a” or “an” mean “at least one” and the word “plurality” means one or more, unless otherwise mentioned.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

These and other features, benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reference to the following text figures, with like reference numbers referring to like structures across the views, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a palm side view of the ballistic combat glove for protecting, and reducing injury to hands and forearms of the wearer from various low and high velocity fragments, bullets, and projectiles, according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 illustrates a back side view of the ballistic combat glove for protecting, and reducing injury to hands and forearms of the wearer from various low and high velocity fragments, bullets, and projectiles, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 ballistic combat glove, palm side -   2 ballistic combat glove, back side -   3 palm side inner portion -   4 palm side outer covering -   5 palm side ballistic insert -   6 back side inner portion -   7 back side outer covering -   8 back side ballistic insert

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Various embodiments of the present invention have been conceived by the inventor while serving in the U.S. Army, wherein military personnel were provided protective gear that used non-ballistic material such as nylon, and foam, and consequently, such personnel suffered wounds and injuries to various body parts that could have been prevented if ballistic material was incorporated into such protective gear.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that in the below-mentioned description, various embodiments of the present invention have been described as protector for protecting multiple body parts of a user, specifically hands. Similarly, such embodiments may be modified accordingly for protecting other body parts, as per the scope of the claims and accompanying figures.

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a glove 100 for protecting, and reducing injury to hand and forearm of a wearer from multiple low and high velocity fragments, bullets, and projectiles.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the glove 1 includes a palm side inner portion 3 and a palm side outer covering 4, and the palm side inner portion 3 is made from at least one material for covering a palm side of the hand and the forearm when worn by the wearer. The glove 1 further includes a palm side outer covering 4 made from the at least one material for covering a palm side ballistic insert 5, a back side inner portion 6 made from the at least one material for covering a back side of the hand and the forearm when worn by the wearer, a back side outer covering 7 made from the at least one material for covering a back side ballistic insert 8. Particularly, the palm side ballistic insert 5 is positioned and secured between the palm side inner portion 3 and the palm side outer covering 4 for protection against multiple low and high velocity fragments, bullets, and projectiles and the back side ballistic insert 8 is positioned and secured between the back side inner portion 6 and the back side outer covering 7 for protection against multiple low and high velocity fragments, bullets, and projectiles.

In use, the at least one material is selected from a group consisting of at least one of a ballistic material, a non-ballistic material, and the like. The ballistic material is capable of preventing penetration of multiple low and high velocity fragments, bullets and projectiles comparable to at least a 0.177 pellet moving at approximately 600 feet per second.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a ballistic glove 1 for providing ballistic protection for, and reducing injury to the hand and forearm of a wearer from multiple low and high velocity fragments, bullets, and projectiles, the glove includes, a palm side inner portion 3, a palm side outer covering 4, and a palm side ballistic insert 5 positioned and secured between the palm side inner portion 3 and the palm side outer covering 4 for protection against multiple low and high velocity fragments, bullets, and projectiles and the palm side ballistic insert 5 is capable of preventing penetration of multiple low and high velocity fragments, bullets and projectiles comparable to at least a 0.177 pellet moving at approximately 600 feet per second. The glove 1 further includes a back side inner portion 6, a back side outer covering 7, a back side ballistic insert 8 positioned and secured between the back side inner portion 6 and the back side outer covering 7 for protection against multiple low and high velocity fragments, bullets, and projectiles and the back side ballistic insert 8 is capable of preventing penetration of multiple low and high velocity fragments, bullets and projectiles comparable to at least a 0.177 pellet moving at approximately 600 feet per second.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method of providing ballistic protection to, and reducing injury to the hand and forearm of a wearer from multiple low and high velocity fragments, bullets, and projectiles, includes the step of slipping a ballistic glove 1 over the hand and the forearm of the wearer, wherein the ballistic glove includes a palm side inner portion 3, a back side inner portion 6, a palm side outer covering 4, a back side outer covering 7, a palm side ballistic insert 5 positioned and secured between the palm side inner portion 3 and the palm side outer covering 4 for protection against a plurality of low and high velocity fragments, bullets, and projectiles and a back side ballistic insert 8 positioned and secured between the back side inner portion 6 and the back side outer covering 7 for protection against a plurality of low and high velocity fragments, bullets, and projectiles.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes constructing the palm side ballistic insert 5 and the back side ballistic insert 8 by utilizing at least one material capable of preventing penetration of multiple low and high velocity fragments, bullets and projectiles comparable to at least a 0.177 pellet moving at approximately 600 feet per second.

Therefore, as it may be seen, various embodiments of the present invention are aimed at, decreasing the number of personnel suffering wounds and injuries to the hands and forearms caused by impacts of both low and high velocity projectiles, fragments and bullets, decreasing the number of personnel suffering laceration injuries to the hand and forearms, decreasing injuries and death of personnel from blood loss from wounds sustained to the hands and forearms, making prior art gloves for military and law enforcement personnel obsolete as they offer no ballistic protection, saving money by decreasing the number of personnel who will need to be treated for wounds and injuries to the hands and forearms, increasing the tactical effectiveness of military and law enforcement personnel by protecting them from wounds and injuries to the hands and forearms, and decreasing the number of military and law enforcement personnel who suffer traumatic amputation of the fingers and hands.

In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the various embodiments discussed above. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present invention. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements as described herein. 

1-5. (canceled)
 6. A ballistic glove for protecting a hand of a user comprising: a palm side inner portion configured to cover at least a portion of the palm of the hand; a palm side outer portion positioned proximate the palm side inner portion; a palm side ballistic portion positioned between the palm side inner portion and the palm side outer portion; a back side inner portion configured to cover at least a portion of the back of the hand; a back side outer portion positioned proximate the back side inner portion; and a back side ballistic portion positioned between the back side inner portion and the back side outer portion.
 7. The ballistic glove of claim 6 further comprising: a forearm portion configured to cover at least a portion of a forearm of the user.
 8. The ballistic glove of claim 7 wherein the forearm portion is constructed of a ballistic material.
 9. The ballistic glove of claim 6 wherein one or more of the palm side inner portion and the palm side outer portion are constructed of a non-ballistic material.
 10. The ballistic glove of claim 6 wherein one or more of the back side inner portion and the back side outer portion are constructed of a non-ballistic material.
 11. The ballistic glove of claim 6 wherein the palm side ballistic portion is configured as a removable palm side insert for positioning between the palm side inner portion and the palm side outer portion.
 12. The ballistic glove of claim 6 wherein the back side ballistic portion is configured as a removable back side insert for positioning between the back side inner portion and the back side outer portion.
 13. A ballistic glove for protecting a hand of a user comprising: a palm side cover portion configured to cover at least a portion of the palm of the hand; a back side cover portion configured to cover at least a portion of the back of the hand; and a back side ballistic portion positioned proximate the back side cover portion.
 14. The ballistic glove of claim 13 wherein the back side cover portion includes: a back side inner portion; and a back side outer portion positioned proximate the back side inner portion.
 15. The ballistic glove of claim 13 wherein the back side ballistic portion is configured as a removable back side insert for positioning between the back side inner portion and the back side outer portion.
 16. The ballistic glove of claim 13 further comprising: a palm side ballistic portion positioned proximate the palm side cover portion.
 17. The ballistic glove of claim 16 wherein the palm side cover portion includes: a palm side inner portion; and a palm side outer portion positioned proximate the palm side inner portion.
 18. The ballistic glove of claim 17 wherein the palm side ballistic portion is configured as a removable palm side insert for positioning between the palm side inner portion and the palm side outer portion.
 19. The ballistic glove of claim 13 further comprising: a forearm portion configured to cover at least a portion of a forearm of the user.
 20. The ballistic glove of claim 19 wherein the forearm portion is constructed of a ballistic material.
 21. The ballistic glove of claim 13 wherein the palm side cover portion is constructed of a non-ballistic material.
 22. The ballistic glove of claim 13 wherein the back side cover portion is constructed of a non-ballistic material.
 23. A ballistic glove for protecting a hand of a user comprising: a palm side cover portion configured to cover at least a portion of the palm of the hand; and a back side cover portion configured to cover at least a portion of the back of the hand; wherein at least one of the palm side cover portion and the back side cover portion is constructed of a ballistic material.
 24. The ballistic glove of claim 23 further comprising: a forearm portion configured to cover at least a portion of a forearm of the user.
 25. The ballistic glove of claim 24 wherein the forearm portion is constructed of a ballistic material.
 26. The ballistic glove of claim 23 wherein the palm side cover portion and the back side cover portion are constructed of a ballistic material. 